Dublin sharpshooter Bernard Brogan has insisted that Longford are a "good side" with "lovely footballers" despite their 27-point drubbing at Croke Park today.

Jim Gavin's side were 1/200 to emerge victorious in their 2015 championship opener, but the gulf in class was even greater than many had predicted.

Goals from Diarmuid Connolly, Paul Flynn, Dean Rock and Bernard Brogan contributed to a merciless performance against Jack Sheedy's underdogs who managed just two points after the interval.

Immediate talk has concerned the state of the quality of the Leinster championship and indeed the provincial structure currently in place, but Brogan pointed towards Dublin's scoring efficiency rather than sub-standard opposition at GAA headquarters today.

"We gave Longford the respect they deserve," he said post-match. "They are a good side with some lovely footballers. We had a job to do today."

The 201o Footballer of the year finished with a tally of 1-06 but believes it is the strength of the panel which is spurring this group on to maintain their high standards.

"There are 30 lads there that could go out on the pitch any given Sunday and going to fight tooth and nail for it.

"You see the likes of Alan [Brogan], Paddy Andrews, and Michael Darragh Macauley coming on. That’s what you want on you bench, you want these lads coming in and finishing games.

"We took the scores today, the percentages were high. It was just the way it happened today."